Loading machine



2 Sheets-Shet 1 F. CARTLIDGE LOADING MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1935 April 20, 1937.

April 20, 1937. F. CARTLIDGE LOADING MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. .20, 1937 PATENT OFFICE LOADING MACHINE Frank Cartlidge, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., a

corporation of Illinois Application DccemberZS, 1935, Serial No. 56,412

'7 Claims.

loose material and loading it on a flight conveyer for discharge into a mine car or the like.

The principal objects of my invention are to i provide a gathering head of a simpler, more compact and efficient construction than formerly,

especially designed to efliciently loadrelatively V large. lumps of material such as coal onto ,aflight conveyer without crushing or breaking;

My invention may best be understood with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a plan view of a loading head constructed in accordance with my invention with the rear portion of the elevatingvconveyer broken:

away and with, other parts broken awayQand struction;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in Figure 1 with certain parts brokena-wayand shown in substantially longitudinal section;

along line 3'3 of Figure 1; l v

Figure 4 is a longitudinal detail view of. a gathering arm at its upper turning point-with portions of the chain'guide broken away and: shown 5 Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view somewhat similar to Figures 4 and 5, showing the gathering arm entering the outer or retreating side of the chain guide. A

In the drawings, the gathering and loading element is mounted at the forward end of an inclined conveyer frame l0 which is usually carried at the forward end of a mobile truck having suitable power operating and control devices which need not be shown or described in detail herein to the construction of the gathering and loading element itself.

The inclined conveyer frame l0 has a troughlike conveyer section II and a forward gathering which forward section has an apron 'l3-extending;

along and laterally beyond opposite sides of said conveyer trough section and downwardly beyond forward end the forward end thereof so that its may engage the ground. .1 7

shown in section to show certain details of con- Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially pair of spaced endless chains 25, 25 mounted in somewhat similar to Figure 4, but with the gathering arm as the present invention is directed particularlysection l2 connected thereto in a suitable-manner,

A- plate 15 forms a bottom of the conveyer section ll. Said plate extends forwardly to a point disposed adjacent but rearwardly of the discharge end of the apron l3 in an inclined plane which is herein shown as being parallel to the 5 plane of said apron, as clearly shown in Figure 2.

The moving parts of the inclined conveyer consist of a pair of parallel-spaced chains [6, l6 having material engaging cross flights l1, l1 carriedtherebetween at intervals. The lower run of said conveyer chains extends downwardly beneath the plate l5 over idler rollers l9, l9 under sprockets 20, 20 keyed to a transversely extending shaft 2| for driving said shaft and also driving the gathering mechanism by means of a geartrain, generally indicated by reference character 22. From said last-named sprockets, said chains extend to and around idler sprockets 23, 23 on a transversely extending shaft 24 and upwardly and rearwardly from said sprockets over the bottom plate l5 for moving material upwardly therealong.-

Referring now particularly to the mechanism for gathering material and depositing it onto the inclined conveyer, said mechanism comprises a chain guiding. members 26, 26 for orbital movementthereabout. Said chain guiding members are of ,an'ordinary adjustable construction having a channeled guide formed thereabout, so will not herein be described in detail, and are mounted on the apron E3 on each side of the conveyer in a plane which is herein shown as being parallel to the plane of said apron and conveyer. As herein shown, said chain guiding members extend rearwardly from a position disposed forwardly of the forward end of said conveyer and diverge laterally from said conveyer as they extend rearwardly therealong.

The gathering mechanism includes gathering arms 21,,21 pivoted on said endless chains at suitable spaced-apart intervals for pivotal movement in planes substantially parallel to the planes of movement of said endless chains. As herein 7 shown, said gathering arms are alternately'arranged on oppositely disposed chains to prevent fouling of material therebetween and are adapted to be positively held in a laterally extended position with respect to said chains during movement upwardly and downwardly along said chain guides and at the lower turning points of said arms in a manner which will more clearly appear as this'specification proceeds. Suitable cutter bits 28, 28 project from the outer ends of said gathering arms and said gathering arms are so arranged that said bits may project forwardly of the forward end of said apron for cutting through tight or unsevered coal.

Certain links 25a, 25a of said chains are provided with parallel-spaced laterally extending lugs 29, 29 which are adapted to have said gathering arms pivotally supported therebetween on pivotal pins 30, 30 mounted at their ends in said lugs.

The means for restraining pivotal movement of said gathering arms with respect to said chain includes a foot 3! extending forwardly from each gathering arm. Said foot is adapted tov engage the outside of the chain 25 to restrict pivotal movement of said arm with respect to said chain in a forward direction while moving upwardly or downwardly along said chain guiding members. A leg 32 extends rearwardly from the lower side of each of said gathering arms from a position disposed outwardly from the pivotal axis thereof, and another leg 33 extends rearwardly from the upper side of said arm in parallel relation with respect to said lower leg. Said legs are adapted to engage parallel-spaced lugs 34, 34 extending laterally from links 35 of said chain and having ends which terminate in planes spaced upwardly and downwardly from the upper and lower sides of said chain, which links are herein shown as being spaced two links rearwardly from the links to which said gathering arms are pivotally connected.

It may be seen with reference to Figure 1 that said lugs are so arranged as to restrain said gathering arms from movement in a rearward direction while moving upwardly along said chain guiding members and to permit said legs to extend along and above and below said chain at the upper turning point of said gathering arms (see Figures 1 and 4).

When the gathering arms are moving upwardly along the chain guiding members 26, 26 and commence to turn away from the conveyer, the

distance between the links 25a and 35 increases to such anextent that the legs 32 and 33 are disengaged from the lugs 34, 34. When pressure is exerted on said arms by material which is on the conveyer, said arms will, therefore, be pivoted in a rearward direction about the axes of the pins 30, 30, and the legs 32 and 33 will extend on opposite sides of said endless chain to permit said gathering arms to fold backwardly along said endless chain.

It will be noted with reference to Figures 1 and 2 that the upper and lower portions of the chain guiding members 26, 26 are recessed to accommodate the legs 32 and 33 and that said upper chain guiding member is provided with a cam-like surface, indicated by reference character 36, which is adapted to be engaged by the leg 33 to move the gathering arms to their normal laterally extended position with respect to the chain after it clears the conveyer.

Said cam surface is so formed that said gathering arm may lie rearwardly along the endless chain 25 as it initially turns away from the conveyer to permit said chain to move said arm laterally outwardly from the conveyer ina substantially straight line path (see Figures 4 and 5) instead of in a sweeping path, as is usual. As said gathering arms move beyond the conveyer, the legs 33 engage a depression 31 in said cam surface which terminates into a hump 38 at the outer end of the outward path of travel of said gathering arm for pivoting said arms in an outward direction to a normal extended position with respect to the chain where they may be held in such a position by means of the lugs 34, 34 and feet 3| and legs 32 and 33, as said arms move downwardly along said chain guiding members (see Figures 4, 5 and 6).

The means for holding said gathering arms in an extended position with respect to said chain at their forward turningpoint includes a direction-changing device 39 provided at the forward end of each chain guiding member 26. Said direction-changing device may be a shoe or any form of anti-friction member adapted to engage the chain as it turns around the forward end of the guide, but is hereinshown as being a roller mounted on a bearing 4| mounted in the forward end of said chain guiding member in a suitable manner which will not herein be shown or described since it is no portion of my present invention. Said roller is provided with disks 42, 42 disposed adjacent its upper and lower sides which are herein shown as being secured thereto and rotated therewith. Said disks are adapted to engage the legs 32 and 33, respectively, of said gathering arms and hold said arms from pivotal movement in a rearward direction with respect to said chain at their lower turning point in a manner similar to that shown in a prior application, Serial No. 752,431, filed November 10, 1934.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, I do not wish it to be construed as being limited to the precise details of construction or arrangement of parts herein shown and described, excepting as specifically limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a loading machine, a conveyer, a chain guiding member extending along said conveyer, an endless chain guided for orbital movement thereabout, a gathering arm pivotally mounted on said chain, a leg extending rearwardly from said arm in a plane spaced from the plane of travel of said chain, a lug on said chain adapted to be engaged by said leg for restraining pivotal movement of said arm in a rearward direction while traveling along the sides of said guiding member, said leg and lug being so arranged that said leg may clear said lug and said arm may fold rearwardly along said chain at its turning point away from said conveyer, and said chain guide having a cam like surface at its end where said arms turn away from said conveyer for en-- gaging said leg and pivoting said arm to a normal extended gathering position.

2. In a loading machine, an inclined conveyer, an inclined apron extending along and forwardly of said conveyer, a chain guiding member on said apron extending along said conveyer, an endless chain guided for orbital movement thereabout, gathering arms pivotally mounted on said chain for movement in a plane substantially parallel to its plane of travel, means for restraining pivotal movement of said arms in a rearward direction while traveling upwardly along said guiding member including a leg extending rearwardly from each of said arms in a plane spaced from the plane of travel of said chain, each of said legs being adapted to engage a lug extending outwardly from a link of said chain, said legs and lugs being so arranged that said legs may clear said lugs and said arms may fold rearwardly along said chain at their upper turning point, and said chain guide having a cam-like surface formed at the upperend thereof for engaging said legs and pivoting said arms to their normal extended gathering position while moving downwardly along said guiding member.

3. In a loading machine, an inclined conveyer, an inclined apron extending along and forwardly of said conveyer, a chain guiding member on said apron extending along said conveyer, an endless chain guided for orbital movement thereabout, gathering arms pivotally mounted on said chain for pivotal movement in a plane substantially parallel to its plane of travel, means for restraining pivotal movement of said arms in a rearward direction while traveling upwardly along said apron including a pair of spaced legs extending rearwardly from each of said arms in planes spaced above and below said chain, said legs being adapted to engage spaced lugs extending outwardly from a link of said chain, said legs and lugs being so arranged as to permit said arms to fold rearwardly along said chain at their upper turning point, and said chain guiding member having a cam-like surface formed at the upper end thereof for engaging each upper leg and pivoting said arms to their normal extended gathering position while moving downwardly along said guiding member.

4. In a loading machine, an inclined conveyer, an inclined apron extending along and forwardly of said conveyer, a chain guiding member on said apron extending along said conveyer, an endless chain guided for orbital movement thereabout, a gathering arm pivotally mounted on said chain for pivotal movement in a plane substantially parallel to its plane of travel, means for restraining pivotal movement of said arm at its lower turning point, other means for restraining pivotal movement of said arm while traveling along said conveyer including a foot extending forwardly of said arm and adapted to engage said chain, a lug extending outwardly and upwardly from a link of said chain disposed two links rearwardly from the link to which said gathering arm is pivotally connected, a leg extending rearwardly of said arm and adapted to engage said lug, said leg moving away from said lug at the upper turning point of said chain to permit said arm to lie along said chain, and the upper portion of said chain guide being provided with a cam surface adapted to engage said rearwardly extending leg and extend said arm to a laterally extended gathering position while moving downwardly along said guiding member.

5. In a loading machine, an inclined conveyer, an inclined apron extending along and forwardly of said conveyer, a chain guiding member on said apron extending along said conveyer, an endless chain guided for orbital movement thereabout, a gathering arm pivotally mounted on said chain for pivotal movement in a plane substantially parallel to its plane of travel, means for restraining pivotal movement of said arm at its lower turning point, other means for restraining pivotal movement of said arm while traveling along said conveyer including a foot extending forwardly of said arm and adapted to engage said chain, a pair of spaced lugs extending outwardly from a link of said chain disposed two links rearwardly from the link to which said gathering arm is pivotally connected, one of said lugs extending above said chain and the other of said lugs extending below said chain, a pair of spaced legs extending rearwardly from said gathering arm, each of said legs being adapted to engage one of said lugs on the outside of the upper and lower margins of said chain so said gathering arm may fold rearwardly along said chain at its upper turning point, and said chain-guiding member having a cam-like surface formed at the upper end thereof for engaging each upper leg and pivoting said arm to its normal extended gathering position while moving downwardly along said guiding member.

6. In a gathering mechanism and in combination with an inclined conveyer, an inclined apron extending along each side of said conveyer and forwardly therefrom, a pair of chain guiding members on said apron extending along each side of said conveyer in a plane parallel to the plane of said apron, an endless chain guided in each of said guiding members, a plurality of spacedapart gathering arms pivotally mounted on said chains for pivotal movement in planes substantially parallel to their planes of travel, means for restraining pivotal movement of said arms at their lower turning point, other means for restraining pivotal movement of said arms while traveling along said conveyer comprising a foot extending forwardly from each of said arms and adapted to engage said respective chain, lugs extending outwardly and upwardly from links of said chain disposed two links rearwardly of the links to which said gathering arms are pivotally connected, a leg extending rearwardly from each of said arms and adapted to engage said respective lug, said legs moving away from said lugs at the upper turning point of said chain to permit said arms to lie along said chain, and the upper portion of said chain guides being provided with a cam surface adapted to engage said rearwardly extending legs and extend said arms to laterally extended gathering positions while moving downwardly along said guiding members.

7. In a gathering mechanism and in combination with an inclined conveyer, an inclined apron extending along each side of said conveyer and forwardly therefrom, a pair of chain guiding members on said apron extending along each side of said conveyer in a plane parallel to the plane of said apron, an endless chain guided in each of said guiding members, a plurality of spaced-apart gathering arms pivotally mounted on said chains for pivotal movement in planes substantially parallel to their planes of travel, means for restraining pivotal movement of said arms at their lower turning point, other means for restraining pivotal movement of said arms while traveling along said conveyer comprising a foot extending forwardly from each of said arms and adapted to engage said respective chain, a pair of spaced lugs extending outwardly from each link of said chains disposed two links rearwardly from the links to which said gathering arms are pivotally connected, one of said lugs extending above said respective chain and the other of said lugs extending below said respective chain, a pair of spaced legs extending rearwardly from each of said gathering arms, said legs being adapted to engage said lugs outside of the upper and lower margins of said chains, so said arms may fold rearwardly along said chains at their upper turning point, and said chain-guiding members having camlike surfaces formed at the upper ends thereof for engaging each of said upper legs and pivoting said arms to their normal extended gathering position while moving downwardly along said guiding members.

FRANK CARTLIDGE. 

